City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Kotzebue, AK

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kotzebue - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,046
Residents
$106,328
Median income
$264,500
Median home
$1,930
Median rent (state)

Kotzebue - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Kotzebue places in the 81st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

81st
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
80th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kotzebue, AK

Kotzebue is a small town in Alaska, home to 3,046 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $106,328 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.6%. Typical homes in Kotzebue are valued around $264,500, and the median resident age is 31.0 years. Educational attainment runs 20.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 40% from five years earlier.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 102.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,930 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $271 across Alaska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 54.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

3,046 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$106,328 /yr

Poverty 11.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Kotzebue compare to other US cities?

Kotzebue measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Kotzebue's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Alaska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

81stIncome percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kotzebue's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$264,500 41st percentile more affordable than 41% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Kotzebue $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kotzebue, AK Kotzebue, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kotzebue, AK-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kotzebue, AK median $106,328/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kotzebue, AK's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kotzebue, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,046
Median Income
$106,328
Median Home Value
$264,500
Median Age
31.0
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Labor force participation
65.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.0%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,800 residents2,900 residents3,000 residents3,100 residents3,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,099 residents 2,876 residents ▼ -7.2%
Kotzebue's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 10
2021 8
2022 7
2023 5
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
21.3%
Carpool
17.6%
Public Transit
2.1%
Walk
42.3%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
11.2%

Based on 1,411 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alaska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$271
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alaska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alaska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kotzebue sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,930/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Eielson AFB
3,133 people
Farm Loop
2,940 people
Goldstream
3,238 people
Big Lake
3,291 people
Ester
2,784 people
Petersburg
3,346 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kotzebue's 3,046 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
3,046 people
Cuthbert, GA
3,045 people
Cache, OK
3,045 people
Snowmass, CO
3,048 people
South Vacherie, LA
3,048 people
Cliffwood Beach, NJ
3,044 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kotzebue's $106,328 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lochsloy, WA
$106,328 median income
Basehor, KS
$106,325 median income
Alger, WA
$106,318 median income
Erlands Point, WA
$106,313 median income
Shawnee, KS
$106,312 median income
East Dailey, WV
$106,306 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kotzebue, AK Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kotzebue, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 20.6% 64.4% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 20.6% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 2.0% American Indian 64.4% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 10.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kotzebue compares to nearby Alaska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kotzebue (this city) 3,046 $106,328
Eielson AFB 3,133 $59,716
Farm Loop 2,940 $110,332
Goldstream 3,238 $92,604
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kotzebue, AK?

What is the population of Kotzebue, AK? +

3,046 people live in Kotzebue, AK according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kotzebue, AK? +

Median annual household income in Kotzebue runs $106,328, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kotzebue? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kotzebue; the closest available measure is the Alaska state average, a cost of living index of 102.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alaska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Kotzebue, AK? +

Homes in Kotzebue carry a median value of $264,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.